Aku-Aku Eclipse

Easter Island

July 11th, 2010

Anakena

2010-07-09 16:12 UTC

Click images for enlargements.

Anakena is the finest beach on the island, and is said to
have been the landing point of King Hotu Matua. The site
is home to two moai platforms. The first, Ahu Nau Nau, has
seven moai, four with topknots. The site was restored in
1979, and it was in the process of that work that archaeologists
discovered that some of the moai were decorated with eyes.

2010-07-09 16:11 UTC

2010-07-09 16:14 UTC

On a hill above Ahu Nau Nau is Ahu Ature Huki, whose lone moai was
erected by Thor Heyerdahl and a team of islanders using the
materials and techniques he theorised had been used to originally
raise the moai.

2010-07-09 16:15 UTC

It is strictly forbidden to touch any of the moai or their platforms, or
even to walk on the rock garden “porch” before the platforms.
Birds, however, show no such respect.

2010-07-09 16:19 UTC

2010-07-09 16:21 UTC

Islanders are believed to have erected the moai to honour their
ancestors, but weren't hesitant to recycle their ancestors
in the construction project. This platform at Anakena includes two
stones, the one above with a carving from a previous construction,
and below, the head of a moai.